Interns, Placements & Morals An Ethical Tale

INTERNS, PLACEMENTS & MORALS:

AN ETHICAL TALE

FEATURE / RYAN DEFREITAS

Introduction

The use of unpaid internships in elite sport has typically been used to boost departmental provision. At Leicester City, the club recognised the need to move away from what has often been associated with questionable and unethical working models to ensuring our ‘interns’ have the best possible experience at the Club. In this article, the clubs lead academy analyst, Ryan DeFreitas, now into his 9th season with the category one club, provides insight into the desire to extract real value from student involvement in performance analysis workflows.

Desire & Drive

Having obtained my own university qualifications, including an MSc in the Professional Practice of Performance Analysis, alongside my UEFA B, I understand the importance and place of academic and practical work experience in our evercompetitive industry. Ultimately, the goal of an effective student analyst programme is to provide value to the student, the department and the overall hierarchy of the club, with my personal goal being to have each student analyst who works with me ready for full time employment by the time they leave.

In bringing this to reality, I have worked closely together with Dr. Andrew Butterworth, firstly at the University of Derby, and more recently at Loughborough University, to develop ethical and enabling opportunities for both academic and professional development. Together we have enacted industry-leading practice in the provision of collaborative paid practical placements for student analysts as they simultaneously gain extensive applied experience alongside an outstanding postgraduate academic offer.

Recruitment & Selection: What Do We Need Them For? Critical to the recruitment of aspiring analysts is evaluating the needs and strategy of the organisation. Ideally, the answer to that question won’t be, “We just need to film more training. Let’s get an intern in.” Immediately, that very basic example raises questions;

Why do you need to film more training? Why should it be an intern that films? What benefit is this to the players, support staff & the student?

Sure, there’s benefit to players and staff in being able obtain to footage to access feedback on their performances, but how much is too much? Equally, an aspiring analyst is not going to look back fondly on their time with you and your organisation if they’re stood outside in the rain all winter. I would argue that’s not appropriate preparation for full-time employment and I think you would find that difficult to rebut.

At Leicester City we understand that a multitude of skills contribute to our provision and we recruit aspiring analysts with that in mind. We think widely about the holistic value that they will bring us, and we will bring them, not just the basic tasks that need covering. Given that we want to

develop players by increasing access, engagement and learning moments, we must get the right people in to help facilitate. A student analyst with prior football experience definitely provides value, but so does an analyst with a background in high performance athletics, arguably more so. In this example not only can we better understand individual analysis engagement, but also on how analysis is delivered in different sports, prompting questions such as; is it instant on trackside? How does it lead to in competition? Do they receive the same in training and competition?

We feel that accessing new information from students with varied backgrounds contributes to the strategies of the organisation and provides greater value in the first instance than an analyst who has experience in doing what we’re already doing because, to be honest, that’s the part I can teach. And so, our ideal scenario has been to have multiple student analysts at the club with variety in recruitment from different backgrounds providing new thinking and ideas. At Leicester City we have taken two to five student analysts each year, therefore we have the luxury of being able to consider a range of past experiences and skill sets. In order to do this, I ensure that the candidate base is varied and I am open minded as to the value each candidate can bring.

This has developed over time with early intakes being particularly football heavy, which still bought success and met organisational need. Though now, I approach each year with a much bigger picture in mind and a gradual shift as each year has gone by towards wider experiences. As a department we are well invested in because I am able to demonstrate the value of our processes and that includes our student program. The needs of each organisation are different; however, universal elements of recruitment are finding people who want to learn, who fit the culture and with whom you feel an element of connectedness for a successful period together.

Feedback & Competencies

It soon becomes clear that student analysts develop as people and practitioners very quickly and so there is a need for regular feedback and reflective opportunities. In doing this, I consider industry developments, current skill sets, opportunity for development and career goals to develop an individualised curriculum of learning for each analyst. Developing this requires collaboration and input, and so we ask our student analysts to complete a wide-ranging competency checklist for self-evaluation which includes basic technical tasks through to soft skills and relationship building. This, alongside my own detailed evaluation of the student and understanding their aspirations, provides a clear picture of developmental areas, USP’s and where we can work collaboratively to make them highly employable.

Once established, continual monitoring, reflection and feedback is critical to continue the development of each analyst. I approach this with student analysts in the same way I do with full time staff under my management, albeit more regularly (e.g. monthly) to more effectively capture their rapid development and set short- and longterm objectives, challenging the students to work towards multiple competencies in set time frames. Not only does this develop the skills themselves, but also develop work balancing and time management.

These reviews are initially driven from the competency checklist, which is updated and adapted as progression evolves, consistently linking back to career goals and the individual analysts’ particular talents. This is coupled closely with the academic learning and practice they receive through their excellent university course too, and I work closely with the academics to ensure alignment for assessments, projects and research. A year with the club is a relatively short period of time, and it is impossible to produce a finished article in that time. With this in mind, we ensure that as the student finishes their time with us, they leave with an individual development plan to continue beyond their time with us, with key actions and work on points to continually develop as they seek their next role.

People Over Process

The needs of the person and support required are paramount, above and beyond the practice of analysis. Entering into a professional club with experienced staff, big personalities and elite facilities can be daunting and often leads to a feeling of not belonging. So, I take it as a personal responsibility to treat students like staff, and offer additional advice, informal chats and advice to help lessen any feelings of anxiety. To further help this, as a club we have moved away from the term intern as this feels divisive or like they are a separate entity; all students who work with me are analysts.

Some of those anxieties in student analysts may centre around approaching senior staff, imposter syndrome, logistics, travel or personal issues, all common in developing analysts. And so, I offer students an open opportunity to discuss, acting as a mentor professionally, but also personally, especially if their experiences relate to my own. This takes trust and relies on a good relationship having been built from the outset, which itself takes time and effort, but can result in enhanced work practice for myself and the students, alongside continued personal relationships and mentoring once the student has left the club. These conversations often happen informally, moving away from the worker-boss dynamic, and taking the form of informal meets over breakfast which I have found to bring out conversations that wouldn’t happen more formally.

The student analysts who work with us are also full time University students, and so I have excellent relationships with Andrew,

and the University, linking in with their own extensive personal tutoring processes and development plans, especially to help maintain a balance in time between both sides. That means ensuring that our students are on track with University work by allocating time to focus on assignments, keeping up to date with the insights created as they occur and planning regular contact. An added benefit of engaging with students rather than hiring additional permanent staff is the access to bespoke research. By helping design the research our students complete for their projects, this provides enormous value to the way the department and the organisation work as together we uncover novel insights for the betterment of our organisational goals.

Integration & MDT Workflows By treating the student analyst as a fullyfledged member of the team and providing the benefits of my normal line management, integration in to the immediate department is simple enough. Naturally, there are always personality clashes in any workforce, however, by ensuring that recruitment processes consider candidate suitability to the culture and values of the organisation and with some level of personal connection then the team will likely be more cohesive and working towards the same guidelines in a positive environment.

By treating students as staff, we see them participate in and contribute to departmental meetings which allows everyone to begin to feel they are on a level playing field, and starts to instil some responsibility in the student analysts. Even simple steps such as not being made to sit at separate desks but to have alongside full-time staff, or in their respective MDT offices, lets the department and also the wider staff know that our student analysts are just that, analysts, and are there to support. The way the analyst communicates with other MDT staff and what they feel is appropriate provision in specific contexts is real learning for the student and so we ensure the thought process, and intricacies of the situation, are fully supported and explained.

I try to ensure exposure to other staff including coaches and players, alongside developing collaborative complimentary projects that aid the student’s proficiency and often dovetail with University assignments too. This ensures the holistic development of the analyst, linking to relationship building, soft skills and time management, with core responsibilities clearly outlined. It isn’t all linear though, and students experience both natural and controlled artificial road blocks on their journeys, in order to prepare the students for the types of moment when this happens in reality, and responsibility falls on their shoulders. The control of this is vital, ensuring that at no point does a situation occur naturally or artificially that is unsafe or potentially damaging, putting the hard-earned trust and vocational development at risk.

Reviews & Success Our collaborative work with students is something that has developed over 8 seasons. The program now is almost unrecognisable to when we started. In order to continually develop I have had to continually reflect alongside Andrew, on the effectiveness of the program and the benefits it brings to all involved. We also survey our past students in order to establish how they felt about their time with us, elements of the program they felt were effective and what changes they would have like to have seen made in order to make their time more positive or to increase their opportunity to learn. It is all information we can use to continually develop the program.

As per the start of this article, an effective program needs to serve the needs of the organisation and individuals within, and so I need to be able to demonstrate this. By cross referencing the work conducted by our student analysts and the value they provide, with the strategies of the club I am able to pinpoint how the program is assisting the academy in making progress with our 5-year strategic plan which can adapt and evolve with their help.

I entered the football industry due to a love of football. Now, over time and with experience, my true passion has become that of developing people. With that in mind, our record of employment postprogram is exceptional, and if that is a desirable measure of effectiveness then we would score very highly. I feel a great sense of pride that I was able to be a part of their journey and be a guide to them in their early careers. Our collaborative and holistic University student analyst program is something I have great belief in, developing opportunities for the next generation of dedicated and talented practitioners.

TOP 5 USES IN FOOTBALL

by Gareth Thomas

1. POST-SURGERY KNEE – QUADS STREAM

Quadriceps inhibition post knee surgery can lead to catastrophic muscle atrophy. This leads to prolonged recovery and unwanted deconditioning. Compex’s muscle stim technology is the best on the market for reversing these effects. Beginning with muscle atrophy programme, before moving through hypertrophy and strength programmes. These programmes can be enhanced further with the addition of combining Compex with early-stage exercises (such as isometric leg extension, squat, split squat, step up etc). This can be enhanced further with the use of BFR (Blood flow resistance) training.

2. POST-GAME RECOVERY

Compex is the perfect travel partner to help players recover post-match. Especially on those long bus journeys back home where mobility and circulation can be compromised. Compex has a variety of programmes to optimise recovery. All of these programmes assist in improving circulation and blood flow, especially of the extremities, thus assisting venous return and removing waste products from the working muscles and enhancing recovery.

3. POST HAMSTRING SURGERY (BICEPS FEMORIS RUPTURE)

If you have ever seen a biceps femoris rupture post-surgery, you will likely have seen the common complication that arises post-surgery. It’s common for the bicep femoris muscle activation and contraction to be minimised or non-existent. It’s observable when the player is trying to contract the hamstring muscles that the bicep femoris activation is reduced in comparison to the medial hamstrings. The Compex offers the perfect solution to this complication. By placing electrodes over the biceps femoris muscle only, beginning on muscle atrophy programme even just one application improves muscle activation significantly.

4. ANKLE SPRAIN REHAB

Compex has its very own programme that is perfect to enhance proprioception post ankle injury. The ankle twist prevention programme is a great addition to rehabilitation to stimulate enhanced proprioception by stimulating peroneal muscle activity.

5. ACUTE STAGES MUSCLE INJURY

Using the Compex post-acute muscle injury can reduce oedema, neuromuscular inhibition and muscle atrophy (Snyder et al 2010). Compex has a wide range of programmes that can optimise the physiology of muscle healing. Starting with capillarisation before progressing through the programmes. This helps to facilitate optimum recovery of these muscle injuries.

COMPEX® RECOVERY SELECTION

It can be sometimes difficult to select the best recovery method for players, based on recovery effectiveness, user diversity, costs/investment, easy application and understandability of a device. Compex® is a total solution brand for recovery. As the leaders in muscle stim technology, we enlarged our portfolio with a therapy range that offers effective, innovative, portable and easy-to-use products, to help progress training and optimise recovery.

Come to us direct for great deals across our Recovery Range.

Contact helen.cartwright@djoglobal.com for special FMPA deals and access to free Compex Muscle Stim Training.

MUSCLE STIM AYRE BOOT FIXX MASSAGER

ION & MOLECULE

COMPEX.COM

COMPEX_UK @COMPEX_INT COMPEXINTER COMPEX_UK

1. Lactate, metabolic waste, excess fluid in or around the muscle with a possibility of secondary symptoms of muscle soreness/pain (DOMS) and tensed muscles (stiffness, less mobility). 2. (Desperate) need for nutrients and oxygen for rebuilding. 3. Myofascial pain and stiffness (pain spots). Overuse or monotonous movements, circulatory and lymph drainage disorders and lack of oxygen, fluids and nutrients can result in sticky and brittle fascia (connective tissue): pain spots and (myofascial) stiffness. 4. Local and central neural fatigue.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO RESOLVE THE EFFECTS OF EXERCISE (RECOVERY):

• Clearance of lactate and metabolic waste by improving blood flow (venous return) • Flush out fluids by improving lymph drainage • Rebuilding “damaged” muscles by improving blood flow for bringing in nutrients and O2 • Relaxation of the muscle • Relieve muscle soreness/pain (DOMS) • Relieve myofascial pain(spots)/trigger points/pain spots in muscle • Loosen myofascial stiffness • Calming the nerve system

MUSCLE STIM AYRE BOOT FIXX MASSAGER ION & MOLECULE

RECOVERY EFFECTIVENESS

Clear lactate and metabolic waste by improving blood flow (venous return)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Improve lymph drainage (flush out fluids)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Rebuilding “damaged” muscles by improving blood flow (bring in nutrients and O2) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Relaxation of the muscle

Relieve muscle soreness/pain (DOMS) Relieve myofascial pain (spots) /trigger points/pain spots in muscle Loosen myofascial stiffness

Calming nerve system

SPORT RECOVERY EFFECTIVENESS

Endurance-based sports (run, cycle, triathlon) Strength-/resistance-based sports Fitness and wellness

High user diversity*

Easy application** Easy to understand***

Recovery session duration, 1 muscle group 20-30 min 20-50 min 60 sec 60 sec